Wire-fence stretcher



1. F. BALL.

WIRE FENCE STRETCHEH. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1921.

Patented Aug. 9,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET PI Lyelbtozweg J. F. BALL.

WIRE FENCE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. I92!- Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

2 SHEET-SHEET 2.

aktoz mag UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FLOYD BALL, ESTER WEST VIRGINIA.

WIRE-FENCE STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au .9.1921.

I ,Application filed March 8, 1921. Serial No. 450,728. 7

useful improvements in wire fence stretchers.

The object of mylnventlon s to provide a simply constructed, readily operatedwire fence stretcher, by means of which a'wire fence fabriccan'be readily stretched to the proper degree of tautness with ease, accuracy and despatch.

. V Vith these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combinationand arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and'finally pointed out in the appended claims, it being further understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scopeof the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and'in which like numerals of referenoeindicate similar parts intheseveral views;

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of a wire fence stretcher embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is afront view. I

Fig. 4 shows the clamping member as detached and open. 7

Fig. 5 is a detail of one-of the adjustable spurs.

Fig. 6 is a section through the clamping bar,- on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings for a more de tailed description of myinvention, the numeral 1 designates the intermediate portion and 2 the two parallel-stems of a U-shaped frame member made of bar metal or iron tubing. Fixed to the stems 2, 2 are the oppositely held bearings 10,10, which hold the main driven shaft 12 having the hearing ends 11 shown in Fig. 2. Fixed near.

the upper end to the shaft 12 is the bevel gear 13 while secured intermediate of its ends is the staple 14 from which'extends the winding chain 15 to which are fixedthe two stub chains 16 the ends of which are rear edge of a main clamping bar 18.

, Held to the. barportion 1, is a bearing giving support to the stub driving shaft23 towhich is fixed the bevel pinion 24in mesh with the gear 13, the shaft 23 being operated by means of the crank 28. I

As shown in Fig. 'l'the stub shaft 23 has secured to it the ratchet wheel 25, and the shaft 23 is held against longitudinal dis- Pivotally held to the frame 1, is the pawlplate 26to which is held'the pawl 27. A spring 30 presses the pawl against the wheels- I Each frame member 2, has secured to its end a bolt 3 engaged by a wing=nut ,4 and slidably engaged in these ends are the sleeves 7 of the adjustable spurs6, each spurend- 111g in an offset point 8,. a-middle lengthwise extending slot 5 being provided to receive the bolts 3 in the manner. shown in Fig. .5

In order to securely hold the fence fabric F, to the stretcher, I provide a specially constructed clamping member including the.

main hinge-bar or clampingbar 18 ending placement by meansof the members 24 and .65

in hingeears 19 and 20 adapted to hingedly rece ve the upper stub hinge bar 33 and the lower hinge bar ,34, these bars being arranged. to coact with the main bar 18 for clamping wire fabric in the manner shown in F igs. 3 and .6. The upper bar 33 has the hinge-car 3' engaging with the ears 19 while the lower-bar 34 has the hinge-ear 4' engaging with the ears 30', as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. I

The stub clamping bars 33 and 34 each have a middle lengthwise extending rib a.

These bars have overlapping ends 39 and 40 best shown in Fig. 4. The main bar 18 has a middle lengthwise extending channel 5 the edges of which are chamfered as shown in Fig. 6, the ribs a being of a width less than the channel 5 so that the fence fabric F, may be clamped in said channel in the manner shown. I

In order to aid in holding the stretcher in position relative to a fence post, I employ the chain 50 having one end secured to the ring 51 fixed to the frame portion 1. This chain 50 has the hook 6 adapted to engage withthe'post on the side opposite to that where the spurs 8 are shown driven into the post so that the holder will be properly held and supported.

The instrumentalities having been properly arranged, the operation of my device is as follows; the fence fabric is clamped beconnection with the drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my saidinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a fence post, a U- shaped frame, a transverse driven shaft held to the two parallel stems of said frame, a bevel gear fixed to said shaft, a stub driving shaft held to the intermediate portion of said frame, a bevel pinion on said-stub shaft meshing with said gear, a crank for operating said stub shaft, a ratchet wheel secured tosaid stub shaft, a pawl held to said frame in engagement with said ratchet wheel, a chain fixed to said driven shaft, a clamp secured to said chain and adapted to engage a wire fence, and a brace-chain having one end fixed to said frame, the other end engaging said post, whereby saidframe is braced against the tension of the fence, as and in the manner set forth.

2. In a wire fence stretcher, the combination of a U-shaped frame having its parallel stems provided with spurs for engagement with a fence post, journaled bearings on said parallel stems, a driven shaft j ournaled in said bearings, and extending at right angles to said stems, a bevel gear wheel fixed on said shaft, a fence-clamp, a chain connection connecting the fence-clamp to said shaft and being windable upon the lat ter, a bearing on the intermediate portion of the fra1ne,'a driving shaft in'the last said bearingand extending axially parallel with said stems, a pinion on said driving shaft and meshing with said bevel gear wheel,

said pinion being seated against the last said bearing, a ratchet wheel on said driving shaft and seated against'the last said bearing at the side opposite to said pinion, a pawl mounted on said frame and engaging with said ratchet wheel, a crank for turning said driving shaft, and abrace-chain having one end engaged with the intermediate portion of said frameand having its other end provided with a hook for engagement with the post on which the frame is mounted when stretching the fence-wire. f In testimony whereof I affix m signature.

JOHN FLOY I 

